The Boston Celtics avoided their first three-game win streak, snapping their two-game skid against the Phoenix Suns, 117-107.
It got to just a two-possession deficit in the final minutes of the game, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown made the right plays in crunch time combining for 56 points. Al Horford also hit a big three in the clutch, who had 9 points and 12 rebounds.
The unsung heroes of the night were Boston’s bench. Payton Pritchard and Luke Kornet recorded 24 points together, as Pritchard had it going offensively, and Kornet was once again terrific in his spot-in play the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. The center had 14 points, six rebounds as a plus-12 on 6-7 from the field. He was there to alter things at the rim and make the right plays activity-wise, including his Kornet contest that made a difference.
Kornet, with his strides of improvement lately, seeming to always step up with one of the Celtics bigs out and Pritchard usually getting hot when Boston is down a man, Mazzulla took notice.
The Celtics head coach gave his second unit plenty of praise following the victory.
“They were amazing, they were tremendous,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Payton changed the game with just his overall, his defense. Him and Sam (Hauser) both are known for offensive guys, but I think it’s their defense that has really helped us this year.”
Hauser was great on the defensive-end as well, but Mazzulla knew it was Kornet who deserved most credit. The seven-footer continues to show why Boston entered the season with such great stock in him each game he gets great opportunity.
“Luke’s ability to play versus the second unit and switching, where they gave us a great look,” Mazzulla added. “When they went to touch, he was able to set great screens and so that unit has been great for us all year, but tonight they were big time.”
The Celtics will look to get off to another streak of theirs on Monday night in Portland against the Trail Blazers, one shy of win No. 50.
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